Portable basketball goal



y 1945. G. A. GIBSON PORTABLE BASKETBALL GOAL Filed July 9, 1943Aifiormey I easily tipped over.

Patented July 3, 1945 PORTABLE BASKETBALL GoAni a 1 Gerald A. Gibson,xcel or, Minn. Application Jur 9, 194s,-s 'ria1n0. 493,991; 2 Claims.(01. 248-192;)

This invention relates to goals for ball games, and more particularly toportable goals for use in the practice and play of the game of basketball.

Portable basket ball goals of various types have been devisedheretofore. They have the disadvantage, however, of being unstable aftera' short period of use since the construction of thesupporting'standards have been such that the frequent blows of the ballagainst the backboard have worn different portions of the unit with'theresult that the basket and backboard soon tilt at an angle. Not only isthis true but the goals are generally improperly balanced and areFurthermore, in the past it has been the tendency to either substitute abasket of entirely the wrong shape without a backboard, or if correctbackboard and basket were used to use the latter without any semblanceof balance. These past arrangements have prevented the player from usingfundamentals of basketball since he had the choice of shooting at eitheran unstable basket or a basket entirely different from the one used instandard play.

It is a general object of my invention to provide an ofiicially approvedportable basket ball goal which is stable inconstruction and which canbe readily adjusted in height to meet the physical capacity of theplayers to properly direct their shots to the basket with a basket ballmeeting ofiicial standards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stable yet portablebasket ball goal which can be readily dismantled for convenientmovement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable basket ballgoal including a support wherein the backboard can be easily replaced inthe event the original board is damaged due to exposure out of doors.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a portable basketball goal including a base and upright, wherein the upright is formed oftwo telescoping sections which are vertically adjustable relative toeach other and wherein the upper section includes an integral unit forsupporting the backboard and the basket.

These an other objects and advantages of the invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

' Fig.3 is an enlargedvertical section showing portions of thesupporting'postthe' backboard,

and the basket brackets; and- Fig. 4 .is an enlarged section takenapproxi mately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In Figsl andZ there is illustrated a circular, concavo-con'vex' base Theconvex'side of the base'is uppermost and presents a gently roundedsurface which hasn'o projections which might cause'injury'toth'eplayers. .Across the bottom of the base is locateda spider6' which is provided at its center with a threaded socket'l. The uppercentral portion of the base 5 hasan' aperture' 8 formed therein; and-thelower edge of the base has a shockreducing rim 9 of rubber or otheryielding material positioned thereon.

' Extending upwardlyfrom-the base 5 is an upright or vertical post A.This post is formed of a lower tubular section II] and an upper sectionII which telescopes into said lower section Ill. The lower post sectionI0 is provided with threads. I2 at its bottom end, these threads beingadapted to fit into the threaded socket 1 at the center of the spider 6in the lower portion of the base 5. At the point where the lower postsection III emerges from the base 5 there is a split collar I3 which isvpreferably secured to the base 5 by any suitable means such as bolts I4which are disposed-in spaced relation to the split ends I5 so that thecollar I3 is rigidly secured to the base 5 and is also releasablysecured to the lower post section II] by reason of the nutted take-upbolts I6.

The upper post section II,.as has been stated before, telescopes intothe lower post section I0.

Said upper post section II can be vertically adjusted relative to thelower post section I0, and the adjusted position of said upper sectionII is controlled by a spring pressed pin I1 which is I secured to theouter lower section I0 and is adapted to be positioned in registeringapertures in the two post sections, as best indicated in Fig. 3. The pinI1 serves as a vertical support for the upper post section .II but itdoes not provide lateral support therefor. For thisreason, there isprovided a locking bolt I8 which extends freely through an aperture I9inthe lower post section I0 and which can be threaded into any one of aplurality of threaded apertures. 20 in the upper post section II. Whenthe bolt I8 is tightened the two post sections I0 and II can be drawntogether laterally to prevent any relative tilting of one post sectionto the other.

The backboard 2| is secured to the top portion of the upper post sectionII. Extending upwardly from the top central portion of the post sectionH is a relatively broad fiat plate-like brace 22. This is adapted to fitinto a socket 23 which is formed upwardly from the lower central edge ofthe backboard 2i. Extending outwardly from each edge of the plate-likebrace 22 is an arm 24 of channel shape in cross section and each of saidarms 24 extends along the bottom edge and up the side edges of thebackboard 2i and said arms 24 are connected to the backboard 21 bysuitable means such as screws 25.

Also extending upwardly from the top of the upper supporting postsection II is a pair of brackets 25 which extend vertically and thenceoutwardly horizontally in opposite directions. The brackets 26 are alsoconnected to the backboard 2! by means of nutted bolts 21 which clampsaid brackets 26 and the backboard 2| together as a stable unit. Thebrackets 25 are adapted to support conventional baskets 28, the upperbasket rim 29 being secured to the horizontally extending portions ofthe brackets 26 and the downwardly diagonal basket braces 30 beingconnected by any suitable means to the lower vertical portions of saidbrackets 26.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided aportable basket ball goal which is sturdy in construction and which canbe easily dismantled for movement to various temporary locations such asfromindoors to outdoors. It is provided with a relatively wide spreadbase whose width is approximately that of the widest spread of thebackboard as well as the extreme distances between opposite edges of thebaskets, and at the same time the base affords no dangerous obstructionto players running in close to the baskets. The connections between thebase and the upright support or post unit assure maintenance of the postunit in a rigid vertical position regardless of the strenuous use towhich the goal is put.

As stated above, the post unit A telescopes vertically and means isprovided to insure rigidity where the two sections are connectedtogether. Additionally, the upper post section H includes as a unit theplate 22 extending upwardly into the backboard 2|, the arms 24 which aresecured to the edge of the backboard, and the brackets 26 which comprisethe supports for the baskets 28. The result of this construction is areadily portable, yet extremely rigid goal post for basket ball whichcan be made to meet all the requirements of standardized athleticpractice, but can also be adjusted for juniorrequirements.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe details, arrangement, form, and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a game ball standard, a base having a lower portion with a sockettherein and an upper portion spaced above said lower portion with anaperture therein, a vertically disposed post passing through saidaperture and extending into said socket, and releasable clamping meansrigidly secured to said base adjacent said aperture and positioned toengage said post adjacent said aperture.

2. In a basket ball goal, a. central base, a vertical post extendingupwardly from said base, and a post tightening ring rigidly secured tosaid base and releasably embracing said post.

GERALD A. GIBSON.

